Tag: DWI Consequnces

If you’ve been charged with your first DWI in North Carolina, you need to know your options, and what to expect. North Carolina doesn’t treat all Driving While Intoxicated cases the same. If you are a repeat offenders you may face a range of potential punishments that are different from those that of a first-time offender.

Losing Your License

North Carolina’s Civil Revocation Law requires a driver to hand over his license when charged with a DWI. The citation issued by the police officer will serve at your driver’s license. Your driver’s license will be suspended for a minimum of 30 days, but there are some individual situations where a limited driving privilege can be granted. At this point, it would be a good idea to contact a Driving While Intoxicated Defense Attorney to assist you in determining whether or not you’re eligible for a limited driving privilege.

When your driver’s license is restored after a 30 days suspension for DWI, or when a limited driving privilege is issued after a DWI conviction, there is a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) restriction. This means the law is more severe for you than for everyone else. The first time your driver’s license is restored, the BAC restriction is .04%. The second and/or subsequent times, it is 0.00%―no alcohol allowed in your blood at all.

Being charged with Driving While Intoxicated can be very complex. It is advised you contact an Attorney that is knowledgeable of North Carolina’s DWI laws. For more information visit http://dwiattorneyfayettevillenc.com

The Safe Roads Act of 1983 in North Carolina, eliminated all of the state’s previous alcohol /drug -related driving laws and combined both types of charges under a one offense―driving while impaired, or DWI.

(BAC) blood alcohol concentration is the most utilized was North Carolina determines whether a person is legally impaired.

The table below list the minimum BAC by age to be considered legally impaired:

Whether your physical or mental abilities are impaired by alcohol, drugs or any combination of both is a factor that will be considered by the State Attorneys offices when to determine your possible DWI Penalty.

*Any previous DWI convictions with a license reinstatement, lowers the BAC threshold to 0.04% or higher. However, this can also depend on your overall driving record and whether you were charged and convicted after July, 1, 2001.

Additional Drug and Alcohol Crimes
In addition to driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, North Carolina Driving While Impaired laws prohibit:

Possessing an open container in the vehicle if the driver is or has been consuming alcohol.
Possessing an open or closed container in the passenger area of a commercial motor vehicle.
Assisting someone younger than 21 years old obtain alcohol. This includes buying or giving them alcohol, or lending an ID so they can buy alcohol.

How is DWI defined in the state of North Carolina? The controlling statute, NCGS § 20-138.1, is explained and examined below:

20‑138.1. Impaired driving.

(a) Offense. – A person commits the offense of impaired driving if he or she drives any vehicle upon any highway, any street, or any public vehicular area within this State:

(1) While under the influence of an impairing substance; or

(2) After having consumed sufficient alcohol that he or she has, at any time after the driving, an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more. The results of a chemical analysis may be deemed sufficient evidence to prove a person’s alcohol concentration; or

(3) With any amount of a Schedule I controlled substance, as listed in G.S. 90‑89, in his or her blood or urine.

Keep in mind that the State can also use what is referred to as “appreciable impairment” to make a case against you. Appreciable impairment is defined as impairment that causes the person to lose normal control of their physical or mental faculties or both. Examples of Schedule 1 substances include: opiates and their derivatives, psychedelic substances, depressants, and stimulants.